ZAMFARA, NIGERIA — Bandits killed at least nine people and abducted scores on Friday in a deadly attack in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara State, where years of escalating violence have turned villages into targets of terror.
Armed Attackers Strike Again
The attackers, described as heavily armed bandit gangs, raided the district of Talata Mafara, conducting house-to-house searches and abducting residents. Hamisu Faru, a local lawmaker, confirmed to Reuters that “no fewer than 100 people, including women and children” were taken.
Yahaya Yari Abubakar, the political administrator of the district, told AFP that gunmen abducted at least 15 people and killed nine others. Victims included the leader of the local vigilante group, five of his members, and three residents.
Residents Flee in Fear
Jangebe village, the site of the attack, drew national attention in 2021 when armed men kidnapped nearly 300 schoolgirls in a similar raid. This latest incident has triggered mass displacement, with residents fleeing en masse to avoid further violence.
“Everybody is now afraid of going to the farm for fear of being attacked,” said Bello Ahmadu, a resident.
Mohammed Usman, another local, said the attackers laid siege to the town for nearly two hours before retreating with their captives.
A Worsening Crisis
Zamfara has become the epicenter of Nigeria’s bandit crisis, with gangs operating from camps in a massive forest that stretches across Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger states. What began as a conflict between farmers and herders over land has since evolved into an organized network of criminality, fueled by arms trafficking and poor governance.
Despite the state government arming vigilante groups to supplement military efforts, attacks persist. According to security sources, vigilantes killed about 100 people last month during a raid on a bandit enclave in the Shinkafi district.
Official Silence
As of Saturday, Zamfara State Police had not issued an official comment regarding the latest incident.
The continued instability in Zamfara raises concerns about rural security, the effectiveness of the state’s counterinsurgency strategy, and the safety of farming communities—many of whom now live in fear.
